alse news."

Gomo turned and looked about him upon the expectant warriors; and, as
if the glance was an invitation to free speech, one sitting half-way
across the circle asked gruffly:

"Why you pour out rum, if you love Pottawattomie?"

"Because I am only the White Chief at Dearborn," returned Heald, facing
the questioner, "and, like Peesotum who asks, have higher chiefs
elsewhere whom I must obey. What they tell me I have to do."

"White Chief lies!" was the short, stern answer. "Winnemeg brought no
such word."

So furious were the many dark, glowering faces, that I braced myself,
thinking the next moment would be one of struggle for life or death;
but Gomo held them motionless with a wave of his hand. He rose slowly
to his feet, and faced us with grave dignity.

"It is true, as Peesotum says," he said impressively. "The White Chief
has used a double tongue to the Red man; yet we will deal fairly with
him, for he has come to us in peace. White Chief, there is to be war
between us; 't is the will of our young men, and the red wampum has
passed among our lodges and the lodges of our brothers the Wyandots.
Yet when you unlock the gates we will go forth with you and your
people, around the sweep of the water. Such is the will of the Great
Spirit, and the decision of the Pottawattomie in council of chiefs."

Heald looked about upon the scowling circle with disbelief so clearly
expressed in his eyes, that Gomo, reading it, turned to his warriors
and called upon them one by one to say if he spoke the truth. I heard
him speak thus to Little Sauk, Black Bird, Topenebe, Mankia, Pipe Bird,
Peesotum, and Ignance; and each answered with the low grunt of assent.
He fixed his eyes upon the younger Indian who had already attracted my
attention by the manliness of his face as well as the yellow stripes
that disfigured him.

"And you, Black Partridge?"

"I have already spoken to the White Chief in his own wigwam, and given
back the medal of the Americans," was the grave response. "I have no
more to say."

I confess these words chilled me, as I recalled their meaning; and
Heald half rose to his feet as though he would protest, but not a
stolid face among the warriors changed in expression. Gomo drew his
robes more closely about his gaunt figure in simple but impressive
dignity.

"Doth Shaw-nee-aw-kee go east also with the white men?" he asked.

"I have not of late conferred with the Silver-man. He has been at hi